1st Prison Term Given in Toxic Dumping Case

Ronald Paul Martin was sentenced to two years in state prison Wednesday for dumping toxic styrene waste in a vacant lot in Long Beach. He is the first person in California to receive a state prison term for violating the state's Hazardous Waste Control Law, the prosecutor said.

Martin, 47, of Cypress, pleaded guilty Wednesday to disposing of the waste illegally. His sentence will be served concurrently with a term set Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to unrelated dumping charges in Orange County.

On Dec. 9, Martin was observed removing 12 drums of styrene waste sludge from a truck and leaving them in a vacant lot in Long Beach, Carter said.